"It is an exclusive club with some great players and it is something I want to do. The last thing I want to happen is to be stuck on 49 caps.

"It has been a difficult decision personally, but it is not about me. It is about the future of Welsh rugby. That is the only thing that matters.

"Every single one of us is desperate to meet up on Sunday. Every single one of us is desperate to play against England next weekend.

"Nobody should have any doubts about that. Unless you have pulled on that red jersey, you cannot really understand what giving it up means.

"Every player wants to play in every Wales game. As a country we are a very proud nation. The players want to make us proud of our rugby again.

"I believe, and hope, the Welsh public understand what the players are doing. We want to see a strong Welsh rugby scene.

"Unfortunately, it has happened this way, but I honestly hope we will look back on this as a time when we could have lost everything.

"Sometimes you dont know how much you love something, until it has gone."

Quinnell dismisses suggestions that the players are being selfish and insists most of the current national squad wont be around to reap the rewards of their action.

"The players have made a tough decision together and genuinely want a bright future for the game," said Quinnell.

"Myself and a lot of the current squad wont be around to take advantage from any changes. But I would like to think I can sit back and say in a few years time something good came out of this.

"The game means that much to me. I was brought up on rugby. I want to sit down at the Millennium Stadium when I am older and see a strong Wales side beating the best sides around.

"I want to see the game still going strong with youngsters who cant even walk or talk today taking on the best in 20 years time and winning. If that happens, this will have been worthwhile."

Quinnell reveals for the first time that far from being greedy, his Wales teammates have offered to take pay cuts.

The players have agreed to slash their own match fees in a bid to help the cash-strapped WRU and the clubs.

Unlike the England strike in 2000, which was over win bonuses, the Wales players are willing to do anything to push Welsh rugby forward.

Quinnell states their only aim is to see a secure and stable Welsh rugby scene.

"That is why the players have volunteered to take less money for playing international rugby," explained Quinnell.

"This is not about money for us. Some of the senior players will take a significant pay cut by what we have proposed.

"We are trying to make the game stronger. As players we talked hard about what we could do. We threw a lot of ideas around. The common goal was: ?What will be the best for Welsh rugby?

"We kept coming back to six sides, whatever those six sides are. It was important to the whole squad that we had our say."

Quinnell admits it has been a tough week for himself and the whole Wales squad.

"It has been difficult but the players just felt their side should be heard," he said.

"But this week has been about securing the future of Welsh rugby. What we have is players, chief executives and committeemen trying to find a way forward.

"I believe, and I really believe it, that we can come out of this stronger as a rugby nation. Hopefully, we can look back in 10 years and reap the dividends with a strong and successful Wales side.

"It has come to a stage where some tough decisions have to be made by everybody connected with rugby. But we need an agreement for the good of Welsh rugby.

"It is very difficult - everybody is aware of that. Everybody has their own view, but the goal for everyone has to be a strong and successful national side. One we can be proud of.

"The fact the players are involved says everything - what we want is to play rugby. It is difficult, but the whole squad felt it was time our views were heard.

"Our greatest fear is that Welsh rugby could collapse. We need an outcome which is postive for the future. If we remain as we are, the owners will decide they dont want to be a part of Welsh rugby any more and they have a right to do that.

"If they do, though, I fear for the game in Wales.

"However, if we go forward, I really believe people will look back at this in 20 years time and say that was the boldest decision taken by everybody. A decision that kept the game going."

Quinnell admits walking in to talk to the WRU powerbrokers was a daunting prospect. But he believes every party - clubs, players and WRU - want the very best for Welsh rugby.

"The players and I were very pleased we were given the chance to put our views across," admitted Quinnell.

"Because I sincerely believe we could be on the verge of something great. It was very good of them to let us talk to them and take the time to listen to us.

"It was tough, no question about that, but I believe everyone wants what is best for Welsh rugby. I know around the table of players, chief executives, owners and committeemen there was one common goal.

"They want the best for the game that we love, for the country we love.

"To play for your country is an incredible feeling. You ask anybody who has been lucky enough to do that. Pulling on that red jersey is the one thing that keeps me going, .

"As a Wales squad we feel we need a strong game here, run by Welsh people, played by Welsh people for the good of Wales.

"We have to be proud to be Welsh and I know in certain countries we are a laughing stock. As a Welshman that hurts me.

"As players we know we need a higher standard and a higher intensity of rugby, something to bridge the gap to international rugby.

"Games that excite the spectator because the standard is higher, games which push players to meet their own potential.

"We just believe a 10-strong Premier Division with semi-pros, and six full-time elite sides, will create a competitive rugby environment.

"That means players have to push themselves to become full-time professionals. We need it to be harder to become a professional rugby player in Wales.

"This is not about making things easier for us. Far from it - it is about getting the highest competitions and the highest standard of rugby we can.